How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jordan Cross and Priscilla Lepak

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

A 2025 case has come to light.

From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, foster parents Jordan Cross,35,  and Priscilla Lepak, 34, are charged with child abuse and neglect of their 10-month-old baby boy who suffered from severe burns.

“According to the criminal complaint, prosecutors said the evidence does not match the foster parents’ story of a bathtub accident.

The complaint says Jordan Cross told investigators he was running bath water for the 10-month-old when he heard a child break a glass in another room.

He went to check the other room and heard the 10-month-old screaming from the bathroom.

But prosecutors say evidence suggests the possibility that the child may have been restrained when the burns occurred or immersed in the scalding water and quickly removed.

The complaint says the child had burns over 22% of their body. When police returned to the home three days later, they said Cross grabbed a pair of knives and put them to his own neck, saying, “I hurt my kid. I hurt my kid.”

Officers shocked him with a Taser and took him to a hospital for injuries to his neck.

Prosecutors charged Cross as well as the other foster parent, Priscilla Lepak.

She was not home at the time the child was injured, but prosecutors said both foster parents waited more than a day to seek professional medical treatment for the child.

Both have been charged with neglect. Cross is also charged with child abuse.”

Foster Parents Charged after baby Suffers Severe Burns in Bathtub
[WISN 2/4/25 by Amy Fleury]

A look at the Wisconsin court cases lookup shows that Priscilla pleaded guilty on 10/10/25 on a Misdemeanor A charge ,”Neglecting a Child (Specified Harm Did Not Occur)”. On 10/14/25, that resulted in a conviction. She got a “Court ordered 25 days of condition time at the Community Reintegration Center for use at the agent’s discretion.” and on 1/14/26 her conviction was withdrawn.
and
Jordan was charged with 2 felonies. Felony E (Child Abuse-Recklessly Cause Great Harm) and Felony F ( Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Great Bodily Harm). Also a modifier of “PTAC, as a Party to a Crime”. His trial is on 2/23/26.

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